Elara stood still. Her heart was still racing, but the darkness she had just fought had not disappeared. She was now... a part of her.
"You accepted it," said the guard calmly. She nodded slowly. "Yes."
Kael watched her carefully. "How do you feel?"
Elara closed her eyes briefly. She felt the change – the power that stirred in her, but this time it was different. Don't worry. No anger. Only a deep certainty.
"Stronger," she finally said.
The guard smiled. "Then you're ready for the next exam."
Elara looked at him confused. "Anonote more?"
"Of course. You don't think you're already there, do you?"
Before she could answer, he snapped his fingers - and the whole garden began to change.
The Path of the Warriors
The black roses disappeared, the ground under them fell apart - and suddenly they stood in a new place.
A huge battlefield stretched before them. Broken swords protruded from the ground, the sky was blood-red. In the distance, an old ruin piled up, enveloped by blue flames.
Elara felt the air vibrate.
"This... is different," Kael muttered.
The guard stepped to her side. "This is the place where heroes are born and legends are forged. Every great warrior had to walk this path before he could unfold his true potential."
Elara frowned. "What do we have to do?"
The guard smiled. "You have to... survive."
At that moment, the ground began to shay.
Elara instinctively reached for her sword when shadow warriors emerged from the ground. Her bodies were distorted, her eyes glowing red. They held heavy blades, and out of their throats came ominous noises.
"Great," Kael murmured and drew his sword.
Elara's grip on her gun tightened.
"Are you reat?
Kael grinned. "Always."
The Shadow Warriors stormed off.
The awakening of the new power
Elara reacted at lightning speed. She ducked under a sword, turned and slit her opponent's side with a flowing movement.
But unlike expected, the creature did not scream. Instead, it disintegrated into black pieces of smoke - and two new ones took its place.
"They are regenerating!" cried Kael.
"Not quite," murmured Elara.
She concentrated - and felt her newfound strength stir.
The darkness in her was no longer just a shadow.
It was a weapon.
With a quick movement, she put a hand on the ground - and black tendrils shot out of the earth, grabbing the shadow warriors and pulling them apart.
Kael stared at her dumbfounded.
"You... did you control the darkness?!"
Elara looked at her hands. They glowed in a mixture of light and shadow.
"I think... I'm beginning to understand."
But they didn't have time to talk.
Because from the ruin... something even bigger awoke.